Red Dead Redemption 2 Duel Guide: How to Win Duels

Even if Red Dead Redemption 2 is the first wild west themed game you’ve ever played, you’ll know that cowboys and duels go hand in hand. According to every work of fiction based on the genre, it’s just how outlaws settle their disputes. If you’re wondering how to win duels in Red Dead Redemption 2, we’ve got you covered.

Duels typically start as a result of a chance encounter, as part of bounty hunter mission, or within a wider quest line.

How to Win Duels in Red Dead Redemption 2

As soon as one is initiated, your first action is to hold R2 button (RT on Xbox One) to charge up the Dead Eye meter. You’re not just holding this down normally, though. You need to press and hold it down gently, so the trigger is only partially down.

Pressing the button a second time fires your weapon, so make sure you’re aimed at someone’s head or their heart to put them down in a single shot.

Tips to Win Duels in Red Dead Redemption 2

The first thing you’ll want to make sure you’re doing when it comes to your shootout in RDR 2 is to fill up your draw gauge as best as you can. This is the bit that’s done by pressing and gently holding down the R2/ RT button.

The softer you press this, the more your gauge fills up. Press it too lightly, though, and you won’t fill the gauge up fast enough and will lose. Press it too hard and your opponent will shoot you before you can do the same to them.

If you’re really struggling with Dueling in Red Dead Redemption 2’s side quests, focus on completing story missions and return to it once you’ve upgraded your Dead Eye. This increases naturally as you make your way through the story missions, so using Dead Eye in a Duel further down the line in Red Dead 2 can make it significantly easier than it originally was.

That’s all you need to know about how to duel effectively and win duels in Red Dead Redemption 2. For more useful information on the game and a stack of other helpful guides, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 wiki page.